MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

20 pages, 1532 KB

Open AccessReview

A Report on Fungal (1→3)-α-d-glucans: Properties, Functions and Application

by Katarzyna Złotko, Adrian Wiater, Adam Waśko, Małgorzata Pleszczyńska, Roman Paduch, Jolanta Jaroszuk-Ściseł and Andrzej Bieganowski

Molecules 2019, 24(21), 3972; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24213972 - 2 Nov 2019

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 7896

Abstract

The cell walls of fungi are composed of glycoproteins, chitin, and α- and β-glucans. Although there are many reports on β-glucans, α-glucan polysaccharides are not yet fully understood. This review characterizes the physicochemical properties and functions of (1→3)-α-d-glucans. Particular attention has been paid to practical application and the effect of glucans in various respects, taking into account unfavourable effects and potential use. The role of α-glucans in plant infection has been proven, and collected facts have confirmed the characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus infection associated with the presence of glucan in fungal cell wall. Like β-glucans, there are now evidence that α-glucans can also stimulate the immune system. Moreover, α-d-glucans have the ability to induce mutanases and can thus decompose plaque. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds with Potential Medicinal Properties from Mushrooms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 271 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Diversity of Streptococcal Mutans Synthesized under Different Culture and Environmental Conditions and Its Effect on Mutanase Synthesis

by Adrian Wiater, Małgorzata Pleszczyńska, Katarzyna Próchniak and Janusz Szczodrak

Molecules 2012, 17(10), 11800-11815; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules171011800 - 9 Oct 2012

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6010

Abstract

Streptococcal mutans synthesized under different conditions by growing cultures or by their glucosyltransferases were shown to exhibit a great structural and property diversity. Culturing and environmental factors causing structural differences in mutans were specified. All of the obtained biopolymers (76 samples) were water-insoluble and most of them (72) had a structure with a predominance of α-(1→3)-linked glucose (i.e., the content of α-(1→3)-linkages in the glucan was always higher than 50%, but did not exceed 76%). An exception were four glucans containing more than 50% of α-(1→6)-sequences. In these structurally unique mutans, the ratio of α-(1→3)- to α-(1→6)-bonds ranged from 0.75 to 0.97. Aside from one polymer, all others had a heavily branched structures and differed in the number of α-(1→3), α-(1→6), and α-(1→3,6) linkages and their mutual proportion. The induction of mutanase production in shaken flask cultures of Trichoderma harzianum by the structurally diverse mutans resulted in enzyme activities ranging from 0.144 to 1.051 U/mL. No statistical correlation was found between the total percentage content of α-(1→3)-linkages in the α-glucan and mutanase activity. Thus, despite biosynthetic differences causing structural variation in the mutans, it did not matter which mutan structures were used to induce mutanase production. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 325 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Studies on the Induction of Trichoderma harzianum Mutanase by α-(1→3)-Glucan-Rich Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia of Laetiporus sulphureus

by Adrian Wiater, Małgorzata Pleszczyńska, Janusz Szczodrak and Grzegorz Janusz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(8), 9584-9598; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms13089584 - 31 Jul 2012

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7541

Abstract

Mutanase (α-(1→3)-glucanase) is a little-known inductive enzyme that is potentially useful in dentistry. Here, it was shown that the cell wall preparation (CWP) obtained from the fruiting body or vegetative mycelium of polypore fungus Laetiporus sulphureus is rich in α-(1→3)-glucan and can be successfully used for mutanase induction in Trichoderma harzianum. The content of this biopolymer in the CWP depended on the age of fruiting bodies and increased along with their maturation. In the case of CWP prepared from vegetative mycelia, the amount of α-(1→3)-glucan depended on the mycelium age and also on the kind of medium used for its cultivation. All CWPs prepared from the individually harvested fruiting body specimens induced high mutanase activity (0.53–0.82 U/mL) in T. harzianum after 3 days of cultivation. As for the CWPs obtained from the hyphal mycelia of L. sulpureus, the maximal enzyme productivity (0.34 U/mL after 3 days of incubation) was recorded for CWP prepared from the 3 week-old mycelium cultivated in Sabouraud medium. Statistically, a high positive correlation was found between the total percentage content of α-(1→3)-glucan in the CWP and the mutanase activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enzyme Optimization and Immobilization)

► Show Figures

Search Results (3)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (3)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI